3-Cushion
NEW YORK - The last five sessions in the preliminary rounds of the Verhoeven will bring the decision in the afternoon (New York time) which 32 players advance to the semi-finals. Then, the six seeded players join the four groups of ten players in which the top four advance to the final rounds. The Carom Cafe is ready for the clash. The top six with Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dick Jaspers, Raymond Ceulemans, Eddy Merckx, Frédéric Caudron and Marco Zanetti has to adapt quickly to the tables and the level of the players from the qualifications.
The match in these semis are increased to 35 caroms.
Tayfun Tasdemir, Sameh Sidhom, Semih Sayginer and Peter Ceulemans moste impressed in the first preliminaries quick matches and high runs. The Turkey's three, Tasdemir (4 wins, 1.724), Sayginer (1.695) and Coklu (1.449) will show up in the next round, like Sameh Sidhom (1.700), Jose Juan Garcia (1.449), Pedro Piedrabuena (1.429) and all front runners in the sixteen groups.
Sameh Sidhom had the second best average after four matches and played a wonderful match vs Tony Liberato: 25 points in nine innings and a 12-run. The Egyptian however lost one match to Alexander Salazar (25-10 in eleven), who is unbeaten is in that group with 1.270.
There were no main surprises in two days of preliminaries, but in the most groups, the tension is on today (Thursday) for the last final phase.
The current situation in the groups:
Group A:
Peter Ceulemans remained unbeaten, Jim Shovak was far behind in his match with the Belgian 25-3 in 11 innings. These two players head the group.
Peter Ceulemans
Group B:
Young Gull Lee gathered six match points and is the leader with 1.128, Ha Young Choi, Peer Hapsoe and Jim Watson battle it out for second place.
Group C:
Pedro Piedrabuena made a strange misstep in his match with Mercedes Gonzalez (25-23 loss), but there's no worry for the American champion with six points and 1.441. The Colombian lady has to play Sruong Pheavy, fighting for her last chances. And even Gerard ten Lohuis (wins against Pheavy and Gonzales on the second day) can hope for a little miracle.
Group D:
Jose Juan Garcia is the group master with six points, 1.449. Three players are still fighting for the second place: Carlos Palafox (six points) and the Dutch Ronald Geyt and Karina Jetten with 4 points. Jetten faces Palafox in the final round.
Group E:.
Lars Dunch and Carlos Campino (1205 and 1.163) will advance, not matter who wins their match today. Huberney Catano is surprisingly eliminated by losses against the two leaders.
Group F:
Ira Lee leads the way with eight points, ahead of Therese Klompenhouwer: he defeated the Dutch lady 25-15 in 15. The women's champion will be second.
Group G:
Louis Aveiga and Robinson Morales are the giants of the group and set the tone to advance. Aveiga defeated Morales in the mutual match 25-23 in 19.
Group H:
Hugo Patino is the group's best after a flawless start with eight points and 1.429, Harry Reyes is the runner-up, six points and 0.852.
Group I:
The careless warm-up for Semih Sayginer brings him into next round without any competition, showing a promising form. Wesley Jaeger plays second fiddle with six points and is facing Ricardo Carranco, who is two points down with a little less average.
Group J:
Sameh Sidhom was the obvious man on top (six points, 1.700) before he was kicked down by Alexander Salazar 25-10 in 11.
Group K:
Three players bunch together, Manuel Riano, Ragay Henry and Chris Bartzos are in the race for qualification and even Lloyd Wallace (four points) still has chances with a win vs Riano.
Group L:
Michael Kang was the player to watch in the group, saving his best for a rainy day. The club owner tops the flight with eight points and 0.926. Michael Hansen is following, six points in second place.
Tayfun Tasdemir was the day's best
Group M:
Tayfun Tasdemir was the day's best with 8 points, 1.724, raising his confidence sky-high. Andres Lizarazo is in his footsteps with 1.471. The two leaders face today in the last round.
Group N:
Murat Naci Coklu controlled the group, however it took a hard fight with Joel Switala: 25-21. Joel (six points, 0.671) needs another tough match to beat Dan Johansen (six points, 1.000) and be in the next round.
Group O:
Two Belgians were on the attack for the leading positions. Roland Forthomme is on top after his victory over Kurt Ceulemans 25-24, both players will advance to the semi-finals.
Group P:
The showdown is very interesting: Miguel Torres is leading with eight points and 1.064 and plays against Allan Jensen (six points, 1.092). William Oh has the best chances with six points and 1.205. The Korean plays his last match with Pablo Flores, who lost all his matches so far.
Murat Naci Coklu
The schedule for the last sessions:
9.30:
Jose Juan Garcia-Ronald van Geyt, Carlos Palafox-Karina Jetten, Tim Gorrebeeck-yung Soo Yim, Huberney Catano-Mike Chen, Bert van Manen-Kim Straarup, Lars Dunch-Carlos Campino, Therese Klompenhouwer-Hyuk Yoon, Nam Cho-Roger Sequira, Ira Lee-Namiko Hayashi, Mercedes Gonzalez-Sruong Pheavy.
10.20:
Pedro Piedrabuena-Song Lim, Ismail El Habrouk-Gerard ten Lohuis, Peter Ceuemans-Rufino Perez, Jim Shovak-Vinny Siemaszko, Armando Rodriguez-Joe D'Annunzio, Young Gull Lee-Olivia Lee, Peer Harpsoe-Steve Kreditor, Jim Watson-Young Ha Choi, Luis Aveiga-John Tomassetti, Robinson Morales-Don Sperber.
11.30:
Jim Bishop-Carlos Villegas, Semih Sayginer-Juan Uribe, Wesley de Jaeger-Ricardo Carranco, Robert Raiford-Tae Kyu Lee, Roland Forthomme-Dionisio Cid, Francisco Loiaza-Martin Olesen, Kurt Ceulemans-Mark An, Sameh Sidhom-John Cristiano, Tony Liberato-Khalil Diab, Alexander Salazar-Christian Portilla.
12.45:
Ragay Henry-Chris Bartzos, Lloyd Wallace-Manuel Riano, Kim Bengtsson-Eric Kwon, Michael Kang-George Hobson, Jerry Geist-Brian Haff, Hugo Flores-Michael Hansen, Tayfun Tasdemir-Andres Lizarazo, Philippe Malsert-Sang Jin Lee, Luca Tomassetti-Christian Andersen, Joel Switala-Dan Johansen.
1.50:
Murat Naci Coklu-Germy Rivera, Thomas Holmehoj-Arturo Herrera, Hugo Patino-Kaj Olsen, Raye Raskin-Sergio Tapia, Vass Vassi-Harry Reyes, Miguel Torres-Allan Jensen, Charles DeLorme-Jordy de Kruijf, William Oh-Pablo Flores.
Start semi-finals: 4.00.
Wesley de Jaeger, second in the group with Sayginer